The Real Newcastle United Forum

Early Magpie History

by Eddy McKenzie

Copyright Eddy McKenzie - must not be reproduced without author's permission

The first actual rules were set up at Cambridge Uni. in 1848. The FA was set up in 1863. Soccer was a word coined from the Uni: colloquialism from FA ASSCN! (Don't ask me how) The game itself goes back of course to Roman times it was called harpastrium then followed by the Norman La Soule.

If we use, as indeed we do, then, we must start with the Blaydon Races. This song was written by Geordie Ridley, and performed at Balmbra's Music Hall in June 1862! Second line is proof of this. Geordie was a Gateshead man. And the Keel Row was a great Geordie song at the time. It just may have something to do with the fact that Geordie's song did make the hit it later did at that time. At the age of 8 Geordie was sent out to work. When he was 20 he suffered a serious accident and could not continue. When he was partially recovered he then did what he could, and that was to do a bit of entertaining. Geordie died at Gateshead at the age of 30 Sept: 1864. Even so he left his mark forever on Geordieland with 'wor National Anthem', but he never got the laurels for it. A comedian called Scatter did later on, and Geordie's song had been adopted as the Anthem of Tyneside! Indeed it would have been an experience to have heard a rendition at a Soccer Match by Magpie fans for the first time! But that was to come later, and it did.

It is difficult to imagine the Magpies in any thing other then black and white. But it used to be the case. Dark blue, Chocolate, Blue stripes, Red, Red and white stripes, Blue and Orange!

November 1881, the Stanley Cricket Club, South Byker decided to form an Association Football Club. They won their very first game against Elswick 5-0.

A year later they changed their name to East End F.C. The reason for this: There were Stanley Clubs in Co.Durham who had stronger claims to the title. So in 1882 the FA agreed to the change.

Then there emerged another Club, October 1882. It was named West End F.C. Bill Tiffen started this Club up and was backed by Bill Neasham and John Black.

West End played played their games on a cricket pitch, but late had the good fortune to rent St. James' Park. East End stopped in Byker until the summer of 1886, then moved to Heaton.

West End had some good players at that time. Ralph Aitkin, Bob Kelso (both Jocks). West End at that time was the better of the two teams. Their Sec: Mgr Tom Watson later managed the mackems, and then the Scousers. Watson was the motivator in the N.E.

East End was getting envious of W.End and lured Watson to E.End in 1888, and never looked back. The Heaton Club went from strength to strength. West End was now getting nowhere fast. The region's first League competition was in 1889. East End were determined to be the leaders In March 1890 They became a company with a capital of 1,000 pounds at 10/= per share. West End was not far behind and formed the Newcastle West End
and Athletic Club with 12 Directors (July 1890) the venture was far from successful. 1892 was a bad year for West End. East End were giving them some tough games and winning. West End was had been licked 5 times in a row by East End and was in trouble. West End called a meeting with East End, as the Club could no longer continue. They wanted East End to take over.

East End took over the lease of St.James' Park and the staff. It was then decided to introduce a more recognisable name. Rangers? City? No these did carry what was wanted. The upshot was. East and West had met and United, so what could be better for every Geordie than Newcastle United! So we were born. 22 December 1892. But the FA did not acknowledge the changed name until September 1895.

United as they were then called had the odd friendlies with
Middlesbrough.United had not been admitted to the FA League because they refused to accept a second division place. They tried again later and could only obtain the same offer. They decided they would accept this. Thus they became League members.

Let's take a walk down memory lane and see what resulted from the above.

First League Game: 2nd Div: 4 Sept: 1893. Royal Arsenal-v- Newcastle United. "At Plumstead, London in beautifully fine weather, before 6,000 spectators. It is the first League match that has ever been played in London. The ground was in splendid condition. Arsenal won toss and had a light wind behind them. They had considerably the best of the play in the first half. Which was not of high order. Both showing want of practice. Shaw scored a very soft goal for Arsenal 8 minutes after the start. And kept the visitors pressed, till just before the change, when Newcastle rallied, and had bad luck in not scoring. With the wind in their favour, Newcastle played better and 20 minutes later Graham (Author's note: it was not Graham, it was Crate, they looked very much a like) scored from a scrimmage. Sorley equalised and play in the last 10 minutes very exciting. But nothing further was scored. Newcastle had decidedly the best of the second half.

The Second Half: Newcastle United 2 Royal Arsenal 2. " End of Report:

Author's comment: Not too good a report. In mitigation it was the first ever. In actual fact it is acknowledge world wide, Tom Crate scored the first league goal for Newcastle and not Graham (Capt:) Jock Sorley put the 2nd one in (a header) from a free kick. The crowds in various reports numbered 2-10,000! So it was not too accurate a report.

The next meeting as a home match against what is now called Woolwich Arsenal. This was Sept: 1883. (Newcastle Daily Journal) First League game at St.James' Park.

"There was a large attendance at St.James' Park on Saturday afternoon when these teams met in a League Game. Frequent falls of rain had softened the ground, and moisture continued to drop at intervals during the play.

The United side were: - Lowrey (Goal), Jeffrey and Miller (backs),
R.O'Reilly, W.Graham, and J.McKain (half backs) T.Crate, C.Quin,
W.Thompson, I.Ryder, and J.Wallace, (Forwards)

(N.B 2-3-5 system! My note)

Woolwich Arsenal: - A.Williams(Goal), Pyle and Stress(Backs) J.Davis, R.Buest, D.Howat(Half backs), W.Shaw, D.Gammell, J.Heath, A.Elliot and C.Booth (Forwards) (N.B. 2-3-5 system)

Thompson started up the incline (Author's note: we had a bad slope in those days!) and within a few minutes, Wallace scored with a nice shot from the left wing. For a while the visitors were able to do very little against the rushes of their opponents. And after a series of attacks, Thompson placed the 2nd point to the credit of his side. Coming away, the visitors got hands dangerously close, but nothing resulted. Jeffrey was cheered for some good feeding work, and Crate made a good run, which nearly led to a goal. Williams came limping out of a collision with Quin, but directly after stopped a swift shot. One or two of the visitors now began to use their weight in which respect they had superiority, but Referee (Mr.Chalmers of Middlesbrough) promptly allowed fouls. At half time the scores were: - Newcastle United..2 Woolwich Arsenal 0

Second Half:

Upon restarting, the visitors showed better, and the ball flashed about in proximity to the home goal. It was not long however, before play was at the other end and Williams through stepping the ball too far gave the United an excellent free kick. This they failed to improve upon, but the ball continued bobbing about close tot the visitor's posts and the custodian did some smart work. He and Thompson at one time showed alittle desire to deal with each other instead of with the ball. Crate narrowly missed scoring with a fine shot, after which Wallace put the ball under the bar. The custodian threw it out which led to a dispute, but the referee allowed a point. At this stage there was only one team in it. Lowrey was a passive spectator of the game, and the home backs were scarcely ever required on their own side of the half line. Thompson made a fine run and shot a grand goal, which Williams had no chance to save amid great enthusiasm. A series of scrimmages ensued inthe visitors quarters and Williams effected some good saves, but before long he was nonplussed by Thompson, who screwed in the 5th goal. Thegame now resolved its self with attacks on the visitor's goal and fromone of these Wallace made up the half dozen. Numerous shots were stoppedby the goalkeeper, but other members of the team were played out longbefore the finish.Final result: - Newcastle United 6..Woolwich Arsenal 0!

The results accurately represents the characters of the game. Excepting a few minutes in each half, the visitors never seemed able to make an effort, and only once or twice at the most did they come near to scoring. Lowrey hardly ever touched the ball while his opponents at the other end had an active time. The visitors were heavy men, but so far was this from being an advantage to them that they appeared incapable of settling down to hard work and they tried all they knew long before the finish.All through there was only one winning team, each member of which rendered a good account of himself. Thompson and Wallace divided the goals between them, but Crate and Quin had hard times in not scoring. The halves were very safe, and Jeffrey with more than his usual smartness. Some 2,000 spectators were present" (End of Report)

In one of the earliest of pictures of the United, they were pictured in the world famous black and white stripes (1893) but were they. At a first and even close examination this could be assumed. In the Club minutes of 1894 was a note to the effect: "It was agreed that the Secretary order all goods wanted from D. Booklers, Middlesbro' upon the terms stated viz. 10 Pounds down on Wednesday 5th September the balance of 2 pounds ten, per month. It was agreed that the clubs colours should be changed from Red Shirts and white knickers to Black and White shirts( 2" stripes) and dark knickers. Mr.Graham to provide a large flag for the flag staff in the Clubs colours and this offer was accepted and a vote of thanks passed to him" (End of Notation)
So we know that whilst chopping and changes with colours, at least the early photograph was not black and white by the above note! So what were the colours? They were Red and White! Why we settled for black and white is unknown. But it was still some time before we settled for black knickers! Because whilst we took on the shirts the knickers were in fact navy blue! Black came later. So it would appear that we probably donned the Black and White shirt around 1895. This is the year also when we first were depicted in an early cartoon as a Magpie who had just received a thrashing!

Magpies? So how did it come about? There are so many stories, but the most popular are: From the colours. I think this would be the most acceptable in view of the order issued for that strip in 1884 which is with us today. But some say it from Fr.Dalmatus Houtman a Dominican from Blackfriars Monastery, who wore a black and white habit. He used to watch the team from a hill at St.James'Park! It may be the kids coined this up. It was also said at that time a couple of Magpies nested in the Victoria Stand, Leazes Terrace, so the players called themselves this! To this day there is a stuffed Magpie in the boardroom, presented to us by the North Mail. Newspapers never referred to them as the Magpies, but as early as early as 1905 they were depicted in cartoons as a Magpie. ( United-v-Aston Villa Score: 0-2 played at Crystal Palace, hated by the Magpies. In this picture they are clearly in the Black and White and identified as such by the reporter!

We cannot leave here without a word on Rex, a Great Dane. He was Black and White and naturally our mascot. He always attended matches and was chained to a wall so he could watch the game. On one occasion he got off his leash and amid great cheers from the fans and team attacked the visitors. It is not recorded if he was booked!

1896 in real business now, backed us by the City of Newcastle.
About 14,000 fans watched United play in the FA Cup. Frank Watt became Secretary His aim, to put United at the top. He did this in 1898 when the Magpies went up to the First Division. A few matches were played. United finished 13th that season. Gates were bringing in as much as 5,000 pounds. A lot of money in those days.

There were some great names at the time Andy Aitkin would have been the start of a long, long line of Magpie heroes. We need to leap forward to one of our all time greats, Colin Veitch.. He said of Andy." He was a master.. A player above the ordinary. A born footballer" Andy hailed from o'er the border. His record is superb. He was signed from Ayr Parkhouse, and commenced with us 1895/96 Played 350 matches! Daddler Aitkin as he was known and Captain of the Magpies. Colin Veitch, a Geordie must have a mention versatile educated player, he preferred centre- half. He did develop and uncanny understanding with Billy McCracken (1904/23..19 years!) Colin was with us from 1899 and had a superb record. In 1914 he enlisted with the 'Fighting Fifth' as an officer. Many more of the team did the same.

We could go on ad infinitum, but the Magpie history from this period is readily available. But name like Hudspeth, Stan Seymour, Rod McKenzie, 'wee' Hughie Gallacher from Airdrie, and so it could go on and on! Bob McKenzie and Frank Watt were determined to get Hughie at any price. They did at the sum of 6,500 pounds! He is almost on par with 'wor Jackie', some 25 years later. This then is and has been a brief introduction to the history of our beloved Magpies on the player's side. In 1905 United won the Championship, but lost the Cup to Aston Villa, 1907, they were again Champions. Palace them out of the Cup this time.

1909 they were Champs again, but a game was played against Sunderland.We lost 9-1! From then on it was a slow but steady build up. With some peculiar incidents en route. Our first Chairman was: Alex Turnbull (1892/94) there was no Manager until Andy Cunningham in 1931, The first Captain was Willy Graham 1892/95, a midfielder.

It is said that between 1903-1912 Newcastle United were the most dominating team in the League.

In 1910 we managed to get the Cup!

It was said Newcastle Utd could give any team a 2-goal start and a licking to follow (Pete McWilliams)

Copyright Eddy McKenzie - must not be reproduced without author's permission